Monday, August 16, 2010

Congratulations to them on being nominated as a finalist in the Home-Based Business Awards!

Jessica writes...Disaster strikes! Last week I dropped my laptop, smashed the screen and destroyed my hard disk losing all my data including the draft of this month’s newsletter (so it’s a bit shorter than usual). I’ve also lost all my emails so if you are waiting on a reply from me I'm not ignoring you! Please send me your email again.

Fortunately a couple of very nice things happened this month to balance things out. First we received a lovely framed certificate of appreciation from PETA for our “work to help stop the suffering of animals by making cruelty-free products available Australia-wide”. Then we were chosen as a finalist in the Australian Home-Based Business Awards which is open to all home business in Australia. We didn't win but were competing against lots of well known, non-vegan businesses so we were very excited to have even made it to the finals.

New Products

Mary’s Gone Crackers Cookies are vegan, gluten-free, organic, non-GMO and contain no hydrogenated oils or trans-fats. They contain lots of healthy ingredients like Chia seeds and come in two yummy flavours: Chocolate Chip and Ginger Snap. Mary’s cookies usually retail for over $9.50 a box but we have been able to get our hands on a stack of them at almost half price and they will be available at this price for a short time only so if you like them, now is a good time to stock up.

Rendang Curry Sauce One of our best selling products is Lamyong’s Rendang Curry meal with mock meat chunks. Now you can create your own rendang curry using the very same sauce. Lamyong’s Rendang curry sauce in a jar is the perfect base for a firey and delicious Malaysian curry that is not for the faint-hearted.

Biologika Deodorant Vegan, certified organic and cruelty-free; Biologika's aluminum-free deodorant ticks all the boxes. Now available in Lavender Fields and Vanilla Kiss fragrances.

Organic Cotton BudsDid you know that 25% of all insecticides are used in the growth of conventional cotton? This results in devastating side-effects on the environment and wildlife. Simply Gentle’s cotton buds are made with 100% organic cotton so are kind to the environment and you.

Father’s Day Ideas Father’s Day is on the 5th September this year and is a great opportunity to introduce your Dad to cruelty-free products such as the Gaia Made for Men range of shave, skin, and hair care products. Perhaps treat him to some gourmet vegan delights such as Leda’s Chocolate Rum Balls, Macadamia Nougat Gift Bags or Booja Booja hand-made Organic Truffles. Or, if he fancies himself as a bit of a Chef, how about a vegan cookbook such as Lynda Stoner’s beautifully presented Now Vegan cookbook. We also have a selection of Gift Hampers: Baking hamper, BBQ hamper, Gourmet hamper, Pancake hamper and Men’s hampers that can be delivered anywhere in Australia and come with a card for your personal message.

Cast your vote for Australia's favourite vegan businessThe annual Aduki and Uproar awards are open for votes now. If the Cruelty Free Shop is your favourite vegan business, please vote for us today by clicking here. Thank you for your support!

Sydney Vegan Bake SaleThe Newtown vegan bake sale stalls have become a thing of legend; They sell a mouth-watering array of vegan cakes, slices and other goodies prepared by a selection of Sydney's best vegan chefs. This month all proceeds will go to Donkey Welfare with Heart and Sydney Pet Rescue. Get in early as their goodies always sell out fast! The next vegan bake sale will be on Saturday 28 August, from 8am until sold out, outside the Newtown Community Centre (across the road from Newtown train station).

Vege Social EventsVIC Saturday 4 September, 7pm: Come along and meet like-minded people at the VegVic social dinner at Las Vegan Bakery & Cafe, 22 Smith Street, Collingwood. RSVP to social.dinners@vnv.org.au by 30/8

NSW Saturday 21 August, 7pm: Join us for a sumptuous buffet meal with the Vegan Society NSW at Maya Chat House Indian Restaurant, Surry Hills. All welcome: vegan, vegetarian or just curious. Membership not required. RSVP to events@vegansocietynsw.com by 19/8.

WAEvery Monday, 6pm: PAWS "Meat Free Mondays" at 120 Beaufort Street, Perth. Join us every Monday night at the PAWS Community Resource Centre for a vegan meal. Meals are charged on a pay-by-donation basis. No need to RSVP. For more information call 9228 2435 or email pawsadmin@paws.org.au.

Charity of the Month (continued from July) Little is known of Candice’s history, she clearly likes being around people so must have lived with a family at some stage but, perhaps through abandonment, she ended up living rough on the streets. When Candice was found she was emaciated, she clearly hadn’t eaten for a long time and was giving all the goodness from her body to keep her kitten alive. Luckily they were both taken to Ingrid’s Haven where she will receive the love and attention and vet care that she will need to regain her strength. Her kitten has found a new home and, when Candice she is strong enough, Ingrid will try to find someone to adopt her too.

Ingrid's Haven is a non-profit, no-kill cat shelter in Victoria. All the cats at Ingrid’s have been rescued from death row at the pound or abusive or neglectful situations. They are cared for, de-sexed and provided with vet care until new loving homes can be found. P roviding care for all the rescued cats is an expensive business so please consider adding a donation towards Candice’s care to your next Cruelty Free Shop order.

Quote of the Month "To my mind the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body. I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to the protection by man from the cruelty of man." Mahatma Ghandi